Alexa

February 12, 2008

Ray Upchurch, filmmaker of "Daddy Hunger", states “I never want to see another child fatherless and with a DADDY HUNGER challenging their ability to be happy and function with positive self-esteem and confidence. Look at the growing prison population, school systems, and communities. Generations and generations of fatherless children are suffering. The cycle has got to stop!”

December 31, 2007

Exciting news! The Jan 1st edition of The Grand Rapids Press will be covering the National Fatherhood Summit. Ronald Smith was interviewed regarding this historic event!! A Child's Right has helped with the promotion of this event and we are excited to see such results. If you are not able to buy The Grand Rapids Press you SHOULD be able to view the story online.

December 28, 2007

It is very important to note that this Fatherhood Summit is a National event and NOT exclusive to just Michigan. This is the first event leading up to the 2nd Annual Family Preservation Festival which is to take place on August 15th-17th 2008 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Fatherhood Summit will bring together husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and grandparents in an effort to begin the New Year recognizing the need for repair of fatherhood nationwide.

So...why should you attend?

This event is packed with an incredible list of speakers, elected officials and family preservation experts!

November 01, 2007

Dr. Stephen Baskerville, Ph.D. describes similar accounts in his new book "Taken Into Custody". Dr. Baskerville is interviewed in both part one and part two of the videos located below. Please help spread the word about the following two videos!

October 18, 2007

Dave Gahan proves once again that his talent is a huge part of the longevity of Depeche Mode. If you were impressed with Dave Gahan's last solo album, then "Hourglass" will literally blow you away. Once again Dave Gahan and Depeche Mode fans have plenty to celebrate over! You can purchase Dave Gahan's new solo album "Hourglass" via Amazon.com below. You can also listen to all of the songs on Dave Gahan's MySpace page. Dave Gahan My Space

My husband, Robert, has been listening to Depeche Mode since he was only seven years old. This is when their first album launched in the U.K.

October 17, 2007

We will know whether or not we have a full-blown child custody legal battle in roughly 2 weeks! If you are a father seeking more time with his child or children, you had better be ready to go the distance. We are not attorneys and therefore can not offer legal advice but we can suggest that you hire the following BEFORE the start of a child custody legal dispute:

1) Local Attorney with a track record of winning - we are very thankful that we have such a person. Ask around in your community and there will be one or two attorneys which people will reference as being the most aggressive winners.

2) Forensic Trial Consultant - the forensic trial consultant will work directly with the attorney providing advice, strategy, research, referrals to experts, etc. Oftentimes a forensic trial consultant can be twice the cost of an attorney per hour. Be prepared to pay a significant amount of money for their services; anywhere from $8,000-20,000 upfront before the trial even starts.

We have been satisfied so far with the Forensic Trial Consultant that we hired in anticipation of a child custody legal dispute. We hired Dean Tong - he may or may not be right for your case. Dean Tong has appeared on thousands of radio and TV shows; along with countless books and magazines. Dean Tong is actually cited in the new book "Taken Into Custody" by Dr. Stephen Baskerville, Ph.D. Dean Tong has appeared on numerous TV shows such as Dr. Phil, Montel Williams and many more. Dean Tong has appeared on over 2000 TV and Radio Talk Shows as an expert guest.

Another factor that goes into the cost of a high powered attorney or trial consultant is how much media they generate. Dean Tong has even gone head to head against Gloria Allred in spirited debates on TV and Radio.

Dean Tong has also consulted on the Elian Gonzalez case and scores of other high profile cases. The media seems to love Dean Tong and how he articulates his opinions! Media attention to your case will help, especially if what you are asking for in your child custody dispute is not outrageous or out of line. For example, you are asking for 25 additional overnights and you already see your children on a somewhat regular basis.

3) Hire a polygraph examiner who is consider to be the best in your region. Not your state, but your region of several states. Be sure to have several tests concluded BEFORE your trial starts.

4) Hire a solid Private Investigator from your state - it is amazing what they can find that will make your case a winner in court. If your ex currently has a spouse be sure to check on their past including the public court documents for his or her divorce if they were married prior.

5) If you have evidence of Parental Alienation, it would be unwise to go into court without first hiring a PA expert. If you hired a quality Forensic Trial Consultant they will generally know someone who will be very credible in court.

6) Hire an expert on child safety or an independent registered custody evaluator. Have them walk your entire house inside and out, including all property that the children live on or near. Have them make recommendations to your house surroundings to improve child safety. A Private Investigator can determine if there are any child safety risks where your ex lives.

The most critical part of a full-blown child custody legal dispute is to shelter the children from ANY and ALL parts of your preparation for trial. Same holds true once the trial starts - keep the children away from the increased stress load that you will certainly carry.

It is essential that you offer mediation before initiating a child custody dispute in court. It is also essential that you offer the best deal possible to get exactly what you want for you and your children and make sure it is a deal that would ALSO reduce long-term tension and future legal disputes. This attempt, if failed, can become very powerful in court. Make sure you offer this in writing and that you also let the other party know that you are offering the best you possibly can; and that you will not accept less for the same. The key to all of this is to seek long-term peace for both parties and to co-parent without the constant concern of yet another legal dispute. Your children will thank you for this when they are older.

Again, we are not attorneys so you should seek legal advice for your case with an attorney and NOT through our opinions here at DaddyBlogger.com. Make sure you buy Dr. Stephen Baskerville's book via the link above! Not only does it cite Dean Tong but also Michigan's very own Jim Semerad from Dads and Moms of Michigan.

September 24, 2007

In preparation for my husband's upcoming child custody case we hired several experts, at significant cost, in addition to an attorney. We have researched the "who's who" that we would bring into a child custody battle and one expert which we have hired is Dean Tong. He is just one of the many experts that you will need going into a full-blown child custody case. I am not an attorney so you must decide with your own attorney on who to hire as your experts leading into a child custody court case. We have been very satisfied with Dean Tong.

Dean Tong is not only a respected forensic trial consultant, but he also brings plenty of media attention where ever he goes which is what you want. In my opinion of course. Again, I am not an attorney so you will have to figure out what is best for your case. Dean Tong is an author of three books and very soon an additional two more books will be published that he has authored. Dean Tong has appeared on numerous TV shows such as Dr. Phil, Montel Williams and many more. Dean Tong has appeared on over 2000 TV and Radio Talk Shows as an expert guest.

Dean Tong has consulted on the Elian Gonzalez case and scores of other high profile cases. He has been very professional in helping us so far and we expect that trend to continue. So far we are very impressed with Dean Tong and will keep you posted. In addition to a trial consultant, I would also recommend hiring an expert on Parental Alienation, a top notch polygraph examiner, a registered custody evaluator, and a private investigator. Each of these will cost a significant amount of money, but if you are going to court to win you should examine hiring each of these with your attorney. These are only my personal opinions and you should always consult an attorney for your own case. I am not an attorney. I am simply a Registered Nurse, an equal parenting advocate, a step-mom and very soon a mother of a beautiful child. If you want to win make sure you go to court with an attorney, a trial consultant and numerous experts.

July 30, 2007

Robert Pedersen will speak to thousands on August 18th, 2007 in Washington, D.C. This will be an exciting moment in history for all who attend! Yes, the idea originated right here in Michigan!! To view the speakers list (subject to change) please visit the Family Preservation D.C. Rally website. Make sure that you make the effort to show on August 18th so that you can welcome Robert Pedersen and Robb MacKenzie after they complete their 700 mile bike trek from Lansing, MI to Washington, D.C.

NOTE: Exciting news continues with the EQUAL Parenting Bike Trek. We have several new TV interviews scheduled and one of the largest newspapers in Michigan is set to interview Robert Pedersen this week!! Stay tuned for more information!!

Have you listened to this shocking interview below with Carol Rhodes and Robert Pedersen on KRights Radio? Carol Rhodes is a former Friend of the Court investigator! Listen to the shocking truth she exposes.

April 11, 2007

Download 2007_hib_45641.pdf was introduced last week by Rep. Steil along with a 21 additional sponsors! That's right 21 additional sponsors! Those who have a vested interest in seeing children ripped apart from a loving and fit parent will be against this bill.

Excellent commentary on Michigan House Bill 4564: HB 4564

Michigan Bill Offers Solution to Family Ills HB 4564

James Semerad and Dr. Stephen Baskerville HB 4564

"We have too many children in poverty in this country," says Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton recently kicked off her own campaign by surrounding herself with her trademark visual: children. Nancy Pelosi took over the House Speakership also surrounded with children, and Barbara Boxer recently got into the act. Perhaps most provocative is a California assemblywoman’s recent proposal to criminalize spanking. HB 4564

What "children" are for the Democrats, "the family" is for Republicans. Senator Sam Brownback has perhaps the foremost claim to be the "family values" candidate. But so far Brownback’s idea of preserving the family appears limited to opposing same-sex marriage. Hardly a stance to set him apart from the Republican herd. Michigan House Bill 4564

There is nothing new about politicians kissing babies. But politicizing children is a newer development. Michigan House Bill 4564

Children and families have figured prominently in every election since the early 1990s. There is good reason for this; the decline of the family and the poverty of children continue unabated. The National Center for Health Statistics recently reported that, despite ten years of welfare reform, out-of-wedlock births are at a record high. A recent survey, The Changing Shape of the American Family, found that "Nearly nine in ten (88%) of U.S. adults say divorce has a negative impact on maintaining a stable American family life." (By contrast, only 53% feel that way about same-sex couples.) And a study just released by UNICEF ranked the top 21 wealthiest countries in the world on their children’s well being. The United States received the second worst ranking (20 out of 21), citing divorce and the number of children being raised in single-parent households as major risk factors.

While all candidates are willing to mouth platitudes that secure their base, none has shown the courage to tackle the difficult, perennial ills that afflict the family and children, like divorce and fatherlessness.

Some 24 million children in the United States now live without one of their biological parents. Virtually every social pathology of our time – from violent crime to substance abuse to truancy – correlates more strongly to fatherless homes than to any other single factor, surpassing poverty and race. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, "Children who live absent their biological fathers are, on average, at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health, emotional, and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse, and to engage in criminal behavior than those who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents."

Yet the responses by both the Clinton and Bush administrations to this perennial dilemma have been weak. Questionable programs to "promote fatherhood" and "healthy marriage" have left both parties open to the charge of "throwing money at the problem."

A simpler and less costly alternative here in Michigan and other states offers a solution to this seemingly intractable problem. The bill costs taxpayers nothing and in fact will save billions that governments now spend on these social ills. HB 4564, introduced by Rep. Steil will provide for shared parenting in the event of divorce or parental separation. This would allow children to have the love and care of both parents in their lives, regardless of their marital status.

The ugly custody battles that now fill the newspapers and talk shows would become largely a thing of the past with a presumption of equal time between both parents. It is the adversarial litigation approach, with its winner-take-all mentality of resolving family disputes, that inflames the conflict and turns children into weapons. A rebuttal presumption of shared parenting will de-escalate the conflict and result in a win-win situation not only for parents but for children and society and taxpayers as well.

The vast majority of Americans favor such an approach. In Massachusetts, 85 percent of voters approved a non-binding shared parenting referendum in 2004. In the last election, North Dakota voters narrowly missed enacting a binding referendum only because of massive spending by bar associations, who profit from our belligerent, out-of-control divorce system. HB 4564

At a time when spending programs by both Republicans and Democrats have failed to reverse this destructive trend, a common-sense measure, supported by both parties and the people of Michigan and America, should at least be allowed a full debate and a vote by the people’s representatives.